Aksobhya Buddha

CHINA

Aksobhya Buddha is depicted wearing a trefoil crown and jewelry inlaid with semi-precious stones. The figure’s eyes gaze downwards and an urna is present between the eyebrows. The Buddha sits in full lotus posture with the right hand in bhumisparsa (earth-touching) mudra. The simple monastic robe contrasts with the richly decorated throne that rests upon a stepped and multi-angled base. Five seated Bodhisattvas and two elephants are on the front of the base. The elephant is the iconographic mount of this Buddha. The back of the base depicts eight Bodhisattvas in various postures. An engraving in Sanskrit along the bottom of the base reads, “all Dharmas arise from causes, and all Dharmas cease from causes; such arising and ceasing is what the Buddha declares to be true.” This verse comes from the “Chapter on Sariputra and Maudgalyayana,” of the Abhiniskramana Sutra and often appears on early Tibetan Buddhist sculptures.